A NEIGHBOURHOOD residents’ association has been left incredulous after they were told new speed limits for their area were unenforceable because no road signs have been put in place by Essex Highways.

St Mary’s Residents’ Association, which represents around 350 households behind Crouch Street and Lexden Road, Colchester, had initially welcomed new 20mph speed limits in the area, with speed roundels – road markings which indicate the speed limit – painted on roads throughout the neighbourhood.

But when the secretary of the association, Emma Dell, contacted the community speed watch co-ordinator at Essex Fire and Rescue Service to inquire about starting a community speed watch group, she was told the association is not allowed to set one up because there aren’t 20mph speed limit signs.

It has left the residents’ association perplexed that, despite 20mph speed roundels being painted on roads such as Oxford Road, Cambridge Road and Oaks Drive, the speed limit is in fact still 30mph due to the absence of 20mph signs.

Read more:

• Visitors no longer allowed to hand feed elephants at Colchester Zoo

• Hooded vandals smash father's windscreen in mindless 'random' act

• Ceremony dating back 500 years set to see world-famous fisheries opened

Mrs Dell criticised Essex Highways for not enforcing the speed limit, and labelled the painted speed roundels “totally meaningless.”

She said: “We are a bit sick and tired of this – we got the 20mph markings painted on the hottest day of the year, so they are smeared everywhere.

“When I contacted [the community speed watch co-ordinator], I was told Essex Highways doesn’t have the funds or resources to put the signage in, [despite the fact] you need repeater signs to actually enforce the speed limit.

“All Essex Highways has done is spend money [because] they have painted 20mph signs on the road that are unenforceable – everyone knows that 20mph roundels are on their own are a waste of time.”

Responding to the criticism, Essex Highways said the best way to take the matter forward, rather than contacting Essex County Council, is to speak to a councillor.

The spokesman said: “The best way to take any highways matter forward is to speak to your Essex county councillor who can raise the issue at the next Local Highways Panel.

“Any traffic management or signage issues raised at the Local Highways Panel can then be investigated.”